What are the metal 3D printing powder preparation processes?

According to relevant data analysis reports, the scale of 3D composite printing materials in the future market will continue to increase, and the application of metal materials will also increase year by year.

Spherical metal powder is the core material of metal 3D printing and the most important link in the 3D printing industry chain. It is closely related to the development of 3D printing technology. In the "2013 World 3D Printing Technology Industry Conference", authoritative experts gave a clear definition of the performance requirements of 3D printing metal powders, that is, metal powders with a size less than 1mm. In addition, the metal is also required to meet the requirements of high purity, good sphericity, narrow particle size distribution, low oxygen content, and good fluidity. The ASTM F3049-14 standard promulgated in June 2014 specifies the range and characterization methods of 3D printing metal powder performance. At present, metal powder materials for 3D printing are mainly concentrated in metals such as iron, titanium, cobalt, copper, nickel, and their alloys.

There are currently four basic 3D printing spherical metal powder preparation methods:

1. Plasma atomization (PA), powder sphericity is good, hollow powder rate is low, fine powder yield is very good.
2. Plasma rotating electrode (PREP), powder sphericity is excellent, hollow powder The rate of fine powder is very low, and the yield of fine powder is better. 
3. Plasma aerosolization (GA), the sphericity is not very good, the rate of satellite powder, the hollow powder is high.
4. Plasma spheroidization (PS): The raw material is irregular powder, after spheroidization, the sphericity is better.

Regular Spherical Powder Catalogue

Spherical Molybdenum (Mo) Powder

Spherical Tantalum (Ta) Powder

Spherical Chromium (Cr) Powder

Spherical Tungsten (W) Powder

Spherical Refractory High-entropy Alloy Powder